NFL alum Pat Eilers played on Notre Dame’s undefeated, national championship team in 1988 but his business success after his collegiate playing days may even be more impressive.
The Minnesota native, who graduated from South Bend with degrees in biology and mechanical engineering, played safety for six years (1990-95) in the league with the Vikings, Redskins and Bears. After his NFL career, he earned an MBA degree from Northwestern’s Kellog School of Management. However, his dedication to Notre Dame never faded.
Eilers took that MBA degree and started a business career in financial investment management in Chicago. He currently is the CEO of the Power & Digital Infrastructure Acquisition Corporation in the Windy City. In 2020, Eilers founded and now also is the Managing Partner at Transition Equity Partners. For the last 20 years, he has helped pioneer investments in renewable sustainable energy. He has been involved in projects ranging from financing wind farms in Hawaii to investing in clean-burning natural gas power plants serving New York City. In the process, Eilers has built an expansive network of relationships across the country.
His dedication to Notre Dame is evidenced through his philanthropy to the school as well as his personal sacrifice in support of the football program. He and his wife Jana made a $5 million gift to endow a sports performance position and also endowed the football program’s defensive backs assistant coaching position. In addition to sports, the Eilers have endowed an engineering fellowship in Notre Dame’s Energy Center.
A decade ago, Eilers interrupted his business career to return to Notre Dame and serve as a pro bono assistant on the coaching staff for one season. He volunteered on the eve of the 2014 training camp when a graduate assistant needed time off to address a serious medical issue. Eilers kept in touch with his businesses but was totally committed to his coaching responsibilities. Fortunately, the assistant recovered and Eilers returned after that season to his growing business ventures.
“I was the lowest man on the totem pole in the coaches’ room that season,” Eilers recalls. “However, I believe anyone in my business position at the time would have done this because Notre Dame has such a positive impact on your life.”
We at NFL Alumni are proud of our brother Pat Eilers’ business success. We also have a great deal of admiration for his dedication to his alma mater which has produced hundreds of community-minded NFL alumni over the years.
